Beginning in 2005, The African Queen and I enjoyed Section 320 at RFK Stadium. Our Washington Nationals and the Nats320 Blog came to life for us there. Since 2008-we've sat in Section 218 at Nationals Park, but our blog name has not changed. Our roots are in Nats320-and we will never forget those good times. But, as always, we will attempt to provide fun, information and commentary about Our Washington Nationals. All photos, unless otherwise attributed-COPYRIGHT Nats320--ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Dual Language Blogging Coming To MASN

You gotta love Our Manager Manny Acta. Always personable, affable and outgoing--Manny is taking himself out there even farther in 2009. The Most Charismatic of Men is going to be BLOGGING on MASNSPORTS.com Manny going MAINSTREAM with a weekly written blog in both English and Spanish, as well as, a monthly video blog speaking his native tongue and English. Our Manager's efforts will also be an additional outlet to promote his impACTA Kids Foundation. Manny's Foundation started to help out those youths in need, in both his native Dominican Republic and here in The United States.

Having seen Manny Acta over the past few seasons in action, you can bet he's going to be telling it like it is. Manny's going to be good at this--and funny too.

Here is the complete press release from MASN.

MASN Teams Up with Manny Acta to Give Nationals Fans More Access

Acta to blog, video blog, appear in wired segments on MASN and MASNsports.com

MASN to promote impACTA Kids Foundation

(Washington D.C.) -- Nationals fans will gain even more access to their favorite team in 2009, as Manager Manny Acta will answer fan questions and host a regular video blog in English and Spanish as part of a new interactive feature at MASNsports.com, the network announced today. MASN, the local leader in live sports entertainment, will also partner with the Nationals' skipper to promote the ImpACTA Kids Foundation, Acta's nonprofit organization which emphasizes the importance of education, health and athletics to youth in both the United States and Acta's native Dominican Republic.

Starting later this month, Acta will provide a weekly blog on MASNsports.com, where he will respond to questions from fans. Each month, Acta will also record a video blog in both English and Spanish. Manny will be discussing the performance of the Washington Nationals, his decision-making and understanding of baseball fundamentals and the work of his nonprofit organization, the ImpACTA Kids Foundation. On Wednesdays, Acta will join MASN's broadcast for special "Wired Wednesday" updates straight from the dugout.

MASN will continue to carry Acta's postgame press conference during the network's postgame show, Nats Xtra, and will provide 24/7 access to the archive of clips with video-on-demand at MASNsports.com.

Acta, the youngest manager in Major League Baseball, is entering his third season as Manager of the Washington Nationals and he is eager to utilize his new blog to interact with fans online.

"I think this is a fantastic opportunity to bring our fans inside the game, to teach them some new ways of understanding what we do out there and to connect them more to the Nationals franchise," said Manny Acta. "I'm also thrilled to be working with MASN to bring more exposure to the work we're doing with the impACTA Kids Foundation."

The launch of the blog will be a tremendous opportunity for MASN and Acta to promote the good work of his nonprofit organization both online and throughout MASN's seven-state television territory. The impACTA Kids Foundation, which began in 2007, recently started construction of a baseball complex in Acta's hometown in the Dominican Republic. Acta will also film special public service announcements which will run on MASN throughout the season to raise awareness about the organization.

"It's an honor to add Nationals manager Manny Acta to our MASN team," said MASN spokesman Todd Webster. "Manny's enthusiasm and baseball expertise will bring a lot of energy to MASN, while providing fans with unique and unprecedented access to the Nationals. On television and online, MASN is covering every aspect and every angle of the Washington Nationals."

The Spanish video blog is important to both Acta and MASN. The new feature will provide an opportunity for Acta and MASN to interact with the growing population of Hispanic Nationals fans throughout Washington, the metropolitan region, and MASN's entire television territory. Acta will also tape a special Spanish Heritage Month promotion for MASN broadcasts. CAA Sports orchestrated the deal on behalf of Acta.

About the impACTA Kids Foundation

The impACTA Kids Foundation is focused on providing opportunities for kids to achieve their dreams, in both the Dominican Republic and the United States, by emphasizing the importance of education, health and athletics. In order to accomplish those objectives, it actively seeks contributions and donations from like-minded individuals and organizations across the globe.

About MASN

With every available Nationals game, an All Star talent team, 105 high definition broadcasts and pre and post game shows before and after every game, MASN is maximum access to the Washington Nationals. MASNsports.com provides extensive online coverage of the Washington Nationals with Phil Wood's "Wood on the Ball," a dedicated beat writer, Pete McElroy, talent blogs featuring Debbi Taylor, Bob Carpenter, Johnny Holliday, and Byron Kerr, a Nationals Buzz blog, up to the minute video clips in MASN's Media Lounge, series previews, live game blogs and more. MASN is currently carried on 23 cable and satellite providers throughout a seven-state region.